All Around Nevada: Virginia City Coach

All Around Nevada is a website run by University of Nevada Reno Professor Howard Goldbaum. The site highlights fascinating out of the way places in Nevada. Professor Goldbaum has given us permission to reprint content from the site. Today’s post is about the Virginia City Coach.

Click Image for 3D Tour

Once the rolling home of eccentric writers Lucius Beebe and his partner Charles Clegg, the Virginia City railcar began its life in 1928 as the Pullman car Crystal Peak. After its purchase by Clegg in 1954 the car was redone in “Venetian Renaissance Baroque” style by a Hollywood set designer. Antique furnishings valued at $375,000 were imported from Europe for the interior. More information may be found at the official website. While making these photographs we were treated to a ride on the car’s observation platform while it was turned around in the Union Pacific’s rail yard in Sparks. The video can be seen below.